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Kofi Annan, Joint Special Envoy of the UN and the League of Arab States on Syria. Photo: UN/Jean-Marc Ferré.

LA Times – Battles between security forces and rebels rocked Syria’s capital for the third consecutive day Tuesday and appeared to be spreading to other districts of the city.

Opposition activists were calling the fighting — the fiercest clashes to date reported in Damascus — a potential turning point in the 16-month civil conflict, which previously had left the capital mostly unscathed.